Buckwalter honored as ARDC champ

The American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) is a tradition-rich organization that has been putting on Midget Car racing here in the East for the past 73 years, making it one of America's oldest such clubs devoted to the sport.

What is also a tradition is the yearly awards banquet. Although there have been many different gathering settings over that period of time, the past 25 years has been at Lobitz Catering Hall in Hazle Township. Last Saturday evening at Lobitz's, drivers and teams joined in celebration of the 2012 season.

The top honoree of the night was 23-year old Tim Buckwalter of Douglasville who, in just his third year of racing Midgets, emerged as this year's driver champion.

Looking back, the list of drivers past and present who have won ARDC championships is among the best in the nation. To have one's name chronicled on that influential register means respect and honor.

"It feels incredible to say that I am on that list of the many, many drivers in the history of this club who are champions. You look at who they are and it's amazing to be included amongst them," said Buckwalter.

"I hope that 20 or 30 years from now someone will be here at this same banquet and be saying the same thing, that Tim Buckwalter is on that list."

Three years ago Buckwalter came into the ARDC fold as a rookie and showed that he was worthy even then, notching one win and being named Rookie of the Year. That same season he also watched as his cousin, Steve Buckwalter, stormed to the title. Last year Tim won again and was a top-five point finisher.

"When I started three years ago I don't think the competition level was where it's at now. This year you can get as many as 10 to 15 cars with ARDC that could win a race on any given night," Tim Buckwalter said.

For 2012 he showed right away that he was to be a title challenger by winning the first race of the season at Big Diamond. He then followed up with victories at Williams Grove and Winchester (VA).

By season's end he was credited with nine top-five and 15 top-10s in 24 starts.

"I don't think the three wins are what won the championship to be honest," he said. "It was consistency. We worked on the car every night at the shop and then brought it to the track each time knowing that my team and my components on the car where going to last me for a 20- or 25-lap feature.

"We came in saying 'let's go for the championship. If it works out it works out and if not then it is what it is.' Not that we didn't get as serious as we were but we kind of put the points behind us. We just went out and did our normal thing. Whatever we thought, we did, and that's basically what it came down to.

"We were leading the points and then going back and forth with them," Buckwalter continued. "I think by falling behind a few times it not just motivated me but the whole team. It was so close all year between (Trevor) Kobylarz, (Nick) Wean and me. But near the end we said 'let's forget about the points. Let's go for good finishes and have some fun at this' and I think that's what won the championship."

Buckwalter began racing at an early age. He excelled in quarter midgets and karts, then progressed into Micro Sprints and TQ Midgets. He is one of the region's best when it comes to 270cc and 600cc Micro Sprints. This year alone he grabbed a handful of wins with that class.

When the time came to race with the Midget he turned to his cousin Steve, who at the time was rated among the best in the country.

"I don't think I would have ever gone the Midget route had it not been for my cousin Steve," Tim Buckwalter said. "He's been there and I'm very proud to say that our car was the same one that he won his championship with also.

In 2013 Buckwalter will be taking another step up the racing ladder as he has been given the chance to run a 358 dirt Modified which he will run weekly at Grandview Speedway.

"It's back to the black and white thing," he said. "I just got that car in my shop and everything is so much bigger and heavier and totally different. It's going to be a tough competition level. I like the quality, the safety and the engineering factor with the Modifieds," he added.

"When we came into the Midgets three years ago we were pretty much the same way with little know-how. Coming into this Modified thing I have a lot of good backing and some good name guys helping me out. It will be a good learning year."

He does plan to run as many ARDC shows as possible when not conflicting with the Modified.

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